Thank you to St. Martin's Press/St. Martin's Griffin for my NetGalley ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Pub date: July 12, 2022
In one sentence: Aja and Walker have found a way to make bingo a lot more interesting - a sex pact allowing them to hook up only when one of them wins a game.

When I started my bookstagram and romcom journeys, I did not think I would ever write the phrase "bingo sex pact" in a review. But here we are, and honestly, I was on board. Extra points for plot creativity - am I right?

Aja and Walker are wonderfully imperfect and relatable main characters - both have personal trauma and anxiety to deal with, and I loved following their journeys and seeing them support each other. I also enjoyed the small town Southern setting - Greenbelt, SC has the best peach cobbler around.

Steam-wise - this is a hot one. I definitely had to skim through the sex scenes, but open door romance readers will love the passion here. Although the level of detail was a bit much for my prudish eyes, I did like the emotion that Jodie Slaughter wrote into the hookup scenes - you could easily sense the characters' deep connection.

I think this will be a fun summer romcom for lots of readers!

When Aja meets Walker for the first time, she is having an anxiety attack in the Piggly Wiggly. His kind gesture to stay with her until it passed was more than expected from a stranger. So when she walks into bingo on Wednesday night and sees Walker joining with an injured Ms. May, who turns out to be his grandmother, she's at a loss for words. Neither Aja nor Walker intended to enter a committed relationship, so they make a bingo-related bet to keep their feelings in check.

There was a lot I enjoyed about this story. The main characters were well developed and relatable. The mental health representation was done in a very realistic way. I'm not someone who suffers from anxiety, but I felt I understood some of the triggers individuals suffer after reading this book. The author did a great job detailing them in ways that made me empathize with their struggles.

It was a good read, heavier and much steamier than expected. I encourage everyone to check the content warning before reading this book as there are many emotionally intense parts.

Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martins Press, for the ARC.

Bet on It by Jodie Slaughter was a laugh out loud romantic comedy and kept me wanting to read more. The small Southern setting was the perfect location for this book. I loved how the author took on the topic of anxiety and other large topics but putting it in a way for the reader to understand if they haven't experienced the same thing all while keep it light and fun. But can we please discuss the runaway hit of the book, the matchmaking older ladies!! They had me in stitches and I absolutely loved them. This book comes highly recommended by me!

Jodie Slaughter, new author to this reader hooked me on “Bet on It” as a first time read. It is such a fantastic book that I truly enjoyed immensely. You have Aja who escapes the life of the city in Greenbelt, SC and then there is Walker, who moves back to take care of his ailing grandmother. This book is loveable itself because I enjoyed the positive plus size heroine, topic of mental health and relationships between family, friends and love interests. You have the heroine with her anxiety and the hero with PTSD which was a first in my readings in a contemporary story where these topics are discussed between the main characters. It was nice that the author conveys that in the story and forewarns the readers of content prior to reading the story.

There is a compliment between Aja and Walker that is undeniable. Although I like to see a bit of steam in my romance novels, however I came away that this story was much more than sexual but the two characters coming together from their life experiences and wanting to be there for one another to bring some form of balance from their mental health issues. Such an amazing story. A suggested read.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this ARC in exchange for my fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

What a fantastic book. This book deals with two individuals that have severe anxiety. I have to say in this day, when more and more of our youth are dealing with anxiety it is nice to see it dealt with in a novel. It is done in a way that normalized it a bit. Both characters have a hard time talking about their issues with others, but you get to see the comfort that comes from finally letting someone in. This subject is very dear to me as I have teenage children that are dealing with anxiety. It was beautifully written so thank you Jodie Slaughter for this.

I loved Walker and Aja. I love how they comforted each other when they were uncomfortable. Their love story was truly beautiful, but I think the acceptance of each other just as they are, was even more perfect.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the ARC of this ebook. All opinions are my own.

Aja escapes city life for some peace and quiet in little ole’ Greenbelt, South Carolina. Walker moves back to town to take care of his grandma, only to confront a past he’d rather not relive. When two people are brought together by their mutual love of a certain old lady and Bingo night, how could sparks not fly? Only when time isn’t on your side, one may have to get creative in how they lay out the terms and agreements of their steamy summer romance.

There are so many things I loved about this book- body positive plus size main character representation, POC representation, continuous discussions about mental health, and healthy adult relationship boundaries (between friends. family members, and romantic partners). Aja deals with intense anxiety and Walker deals with PTSD- I haven’t read a romance book where both romantic interests experience and openly discuss their mental health. The way these characters spoke to and engaged with one another throughout the entirety of the book is how I hope to see more people do so in real life. Also, there just aren’t enough other books depicting the insanely awkward and uncomfortable act that is making new friends as an adult! And in addition to all of these previous points, this book was still a standout SEXY romance novel! Let’s give a round of applause to Jodie Slaughter for making me reflect on how to approach mental health in a relationship while also making me lust after a fictional man. For fans of Talia Hibbert, Jasmine Guillory, and Julie Murphy's books, this is going to be a summer 2022 MUST-read.

You’ll Love This If You Love:
💕Sweet Home Alabama (even though this book takes place in South Carolina)
💕The ‘Get A Life’ series from Talia Hibbert
💕Peach Cobbler
💕Books That Talk About Mental Health
💕Spicy Romance Novels
💕WOC main characters
💕Bingo/Playful Competition

Content Warning: PTSD, Panic/Anxiety attacks, Childhood trauma, Alcoholism

Bet on It is an absolute delight! It's sweet, hot, and completely hilarious. I love the chemistry between Aja and Walker and their conversations felt so real. Absolutely loved it!
Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read and review this title. All opinions and mistakes are my own,

I loved this book. The characters were like able and easy to connect with. It also made my think about a professional bingo career! Hey it brought them together!

Loved it! This isnt was the day that you were ueotowotowutoeu we were all over here and there are so cute and charming and so sexy about how to get it out from you and

The more I think about Bet on It, the more I love it. Aja and Walker have instant chemistry and believable hurdles to overcome on their way to a HEA. Too often, couples in romance novels keep each other at a distance for reasons that feel contrived for the purpose of stretching out the plot. But two people who live in different places (a city and a small town) and each have understandable reasons for not wanting to live where the other lives? It's easy to believe that they would be hesitant about starting a relationship.
I also really appreciated the portrayals of anxiety, especially Aja. Because while Walker's PTSD is rooted in traumatic experiences in his childhood, Aja just...has anxiety. Not all anxiety has to be caused by intense trauma! Thank you, Jodie Slaughter.
Some other things I enjoyed: the bingo premise is cute, I love Walker's grandmother, and I really want a piece of that peach cobbler now. Overall, I really can't wait to see what Jodie Slaughter writes in the future.

“To her, it didn’t seem fair that someone could be in your life for such a short amount of time but still upend it completely.”

Genre: Romance
Actual Rating: 4 stars
Content Warnings: Discusses mental illness, panic attacks, drug abuse, and child endangerment (These were stated at the beginning of the book, 10/10 for that).

This book follows Aja Owens, who just moved to the small town of Greenbelt, and Walker Abbott, who swore he would never come back to his hometown of Greenbelt. Walker is the grandson of Aja’s bingo partner and has moved back to Greenbelt temporarily, as he helps his grandma recover from a fall. As Aja and Walker bond over bingo (and their undeniable chemistry), they unintentionally form a pact: they will have sex if and only if one of them wins in bingo… Because they can’t and won’t fall in love. What would be the point? Walker will be leaving soon and Aja still hasn’t found what she’s looking for in small-town living. “Bet on It” is a story of friendship and understanding, bingo and luck. You will be left hanging from your seats, willing for a bingo as soon as possible.

“Bet on It” has been one of the most entertaining books I’ve read this year. If it hadn’t been for other commitments, I would’ve most certainly read it in one sitting. Both Aja and Walker were such related characters for me. They were really well written and I just loved how Jodie Slaughter went out of her way to show how anxiety and panic attacks could look different for different people and how different coping mechanisms are still valid.

I fell in love with the potential Aja and Walker had. They truly complimented each other. It wasn’t just the raw sexual tension between them that tied them together, no. They bonded over their most personal experiences and they tried to be there for each other and be open with each other. Their friendship and relationship was truly amazing to witness.

I would recommend this book to people who like romance books like The Hating Game and who aren’t afraid of some seeeerious sexual tension and restraint. I can’t wait to get my hands on a physical copy of this book.

ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is the second Jodie Slaughter novel I have read, and I am absolutely impressed by her versatility. The first book I read was a hitman romance and while the tone and emotionality of both books are totally different, they are both enjoyable and well written. In Bet On It, Aja Owens encounters Walker Abbott when she is in the middle of a panic attack in Piggly Wiggly. Walker recognizes that Aja is in the middle of an episode and waits with her until she can regroup. They reconnect when they find that they both attend the Wednesday night Bingo Game. Walker goes to assist his elderly and recently injured grandmother and Aja goes to make progress with her paralyzing social anxiety. As Aja and Walker engage and become friends, they find commonalities. They both have mental health issues and are working to keep balance in their lives. Balance does not include getting romantically involved with anyone. Furthermore, Walker does not intend to stay around long. He has returned to his hated hometown only to help his grandmother, while Aja sees Greenbelt, South Carolina as a quiet safe haven. I really enjoyed this book and especially appreciated the tactful way Ms. Slaughter tackled the delicate issue of mental health. This is an amazing story about two resilient but fragile people connecting and compromising on the important things in life.

Thank you NetGalley for giving me an ARC for my honest opinion.

As soon as I saw the words "bingo based sex pact" in the synopsis, I knew I would love this book! This book was so much fun! The small Southern setting had me feeling right at home, and I loved the approach Jodie took to tackling big topics while still making it a "fun" read. The matchmaking older ladies stole the show for me on this one!

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars!

It is a great romance with some amazing representation (plus-sized woman of color, anxiety and mental health struggles). It was personally a little slow for me and took me some time to really get into it. However, it was very entertaining and I enjoyed seeing Walker's growth through out the book. I hope to read more of Jodie Slaughter's books in the future! :)

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. There are so many things about this book that I loved. I loved that it was set in the South, in neighboring South Carolina, with one of my favorite places as a backdrop—Charleston. I loved that Aja wasn’t your typical skinny protagonist, but one with curves and braids! Most of all, I loved this raw look at two people living and learning to cope with their anxiety, while falling in love and playing bingo. Coming from a small town in NC, I appreciated the mentions of Piggly Wiggly, drive in theaters, and peach cobbler in the summer. A fun read with relatable characters.

This was my first Jodie Slaughter novel and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was in third person POV, and while that is one narrative I don't always enjoy, I can simply say that this story was well written and flowed seamlessly enough that it wasn't an issue for me to read through. This story is a small-town, feel-good read.
I was able to relate to both MCs in this story and that is a first. It's also not that common to be able to lean into both MC, and it was hands down like reading about myself. The mental health aspect of each MC was written with care and an understanding that shined throughout this book. It wasn't entirely textbook and stereotypical. Thank you!
Absolutely loved Aja and Wally! You'll find humor, a bit of angst, personal trials, and STEAM with these two. We are also introduced to their friends, which leads me to hope that we'll be seeing more of Greenbelt.
I would have gladly read more chapters of these two.

I absolutely LOVED this one! I've never read a romance novel where both main characters deal with anxiety and have many triggers of it. The relationship between Aja and Walker was super cute and didn't feel too overwhelming to me. Although there was a bit too much intimacy for me, I still really enjoyed the other parts to this book. If you are a fan of Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert, I would highly suggest this one! Chloe and Aja reminded me so much of each other.

To me, the bingo bet premise is very thin pretext, but who cares when the writing is as charming and relatable as Jodie Slaughter's? The mental health rep is gorgeous (if you're wondering how mental health rep can be gorgeous, again that's down to Jodie Slaughter's talent and sensitivity) and the characters extremely likeable, especially Aja and the new friends she makes in town.

Thanks for the ARC through the publisher at NetGalley.

I'm either in the biggest reading slump of my life or this book just didn't grab me. I was able to put this book down for days in a row, and it wasn't one that kept my attention. I loved the representation, but the story was pretty underwhelming. I loved the inclusion of the anxiety disorders and hardships of some childhood trauma, but I just felt like it wasn't that deep. It was a cute rom-com, but just not what I guess I was looking for.

I think that this book was pretty good, there was a lot of tension between the characters (Sexual, romantic, general tension) LOADS of tension which was done really well!

I think that Aja was a likable character, she was probably my favorite, and Walker was... something? (I don't know how to describe it, but I didn't like him haha)

Anyway, this book would have been a 5 star read for me if there was a different romantic partner (Something about Walker just... felt wrong)